AUTHOR JANET W. FERGUSON
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Blog: Under the Southern Sun

Dauphin Island Camping/Failed Snake Patrol

1/29/2015

 
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Even though I grew up in the old days when everyone played outside until Momma hollered, “Supper time,” I'm not much of a camper. But, all of my mother’s grandsons had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, so I bestowed onto my only son An Agenda. He must become an Eagle Scout.

Spoiler alert. He's not an Eagle. Not his goal.

That said, while we were on my quest for the Eagle, we did some camping. One of my favorite outings was--and I know you find this hard to believe--at the beach.

Dauphin Island, Alabama is a quaint barrier island south of Mobile. The beaches aren’t as pristine as San Destin, nor does it host the huge resorts and shopping malls. (Buy your groceries before you get there.) But hey, it’s still a beach on the Gulf.

The island is small, and most of it is designated as a bird sanctuary—a bird watcher’s delight. We toured the Sea Lab and a cool old fort on the bay, Fort Gaines. The campground was nice, too. One great thing about being a female chaperone with the scouts is that the men/boys do all the cooking, like yummy hobo meals and Dutch oven cobblers.

The only thing that bothered me (other than sleeping in the tent) was this swampy nature trail the boys had to run down to get to the beach. About twice every waking hour, I warned them to watch for snakes. Over and over and over, I reminded, until their response became, “We know. Watch for snakes.”

During all my rambling in creeks and woods of central Mississippi growing up, I never ran across a snake. I’m not sure why I obsessed about my kids stepping on one.

Soooo … we left the island having seen no reptiles. Along the way home, I threw a fit to stop at The Bellingrath Estate to tour the flower gardens. (I mean we were so close to it down there.) I walked as fast as I could because my son’s (and my husband’s) patience for this sort of thing was nil on a good day. My map in hand, I covered ground quickly, hitting the highlights.

Then I heard my son yelling, “Mom, Mom.” I groaned, just knowing he was ready to leave. I answered, in not so nice a voice, “What???”

He huffed, “Uh, you’re standing on a snake.”

Yes. I looked down and under my Saucony tennis shoe was a squirming black snake. Luckily, it hightailed it when I lifted my foot.

Not sure there’s a point to this story other than maybe parents should take their own advice. (Believe me, your kids will make fun of you for years afterward when you don’t.) Oh, and don’t let fear of snakes keep you from having fun.

Do you have any snake stories?

 

 

Misty M. Beller
1/29/2015 09:37:22 pm

Janet, this story made me laugh out loud! Thanks for sharing! :)

Janet Ferguson
1/29/2015 10:30:44 pm

Thanks, Misty!

Melanie Atkins link
1/29/2015 10:13:05 pm

One of my cats once cornered a big snake in our garage. I grabbed the cat and threw him into the house so my oldest son, who was about 12 or 13 at the time, could kill the snake with a hoe. Long story short, he dispatched the snake with no problem while the cat had a freaking fit right inside the door. He'd cornered the snake, and HE wanted to keep the snake. He's passed on now, but I don't think he ever forgave us for not letting him take care of business. lol

Janet Ferguson
1/30/2015 01:53:51 am

Cats are so funny that way. Once he'd done his job, he probably would have presented it to you as a mauled gift on your doorstep, though!

Melanie Atkins link
1/30/2015 02:28:39 am

So true, if he could've handled that big snake! He was a good hunter, but I'm not sure he was that good.

Jackie Layton link
1/30/2015 08:16:01 am

Janet,

That is so funny. I hope you put it in a book one day. I'm sure your son will never tire of this story!

Janet Ferguson
1/30/2015 08:38:32 am

Thanks, Jackie! I may put a version of it in a book some time, but my family will always make fun of me about it either way.

LeAnne Bristow link
1/31/2015 10:46:32 am

Do I have snake stories??? Are you kidding? I grew up in the heart of rattlesnake country. Home to the Diamondback Jubilee where every old man in town had a snake catcher in the back of his truck. My grandpa would show up snakes that he'd caught when we could barely walk and teach up about snakes. I'd killed more rattlesnakes than I could count before I learned to drive.
So reading your blog made me giggle. Looking for snakes was 2nd nature growing up...and yes, mother's really should heed their own advice!

Janet Ferguson
1/31/2015 11:30:15 am

Oh goodness, LeAnne! I'd really be freaking out, and maybe a lot more careful myself!


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    Janet W. Ferguson
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